New TV tariff: Minimal disruption on Friday
TNN | Updated: Feb 2, 2019, 06:06 IST
Representative imageBENGALURU: Contrary to the fear that most TV screens would go black on Friday when the new tariff regime was rolled out, most viewers had full access to living-room entertainment across Karnataka.
Barring a few small multi-system operators (MSO) in districts like Belagavi, all MSOs and local cable operators (LCOs) continued to air the same channels as was done before, even as MSOs are receiving options of individual channels (al a carte) and bouquets as per the new system.
“We heard LCOs and MSOs are yet to come to an agreement on revenue sharing, but they decided to not disrupt the cable service. So, subscribers felt no change in TV programmes,” said a TRAI official.
Most direct-to-home (DTH) operators and MSOs, who have the facility of primary point (directly connected to TV sets without LCOs), rolled out the new regime and beamed TV channels as per the options they had collected from viewers.
Of the about 1.1 crore cable TV consumers in the state, about 30% subscribe to DTH and 5% are covered under MSOs with primary point.
“We are still holding talks with MSOs on revenue sharing and have decided not to disrupt the service for now. We hope the issue will be resolved soon,” said VS Patrick Raju, president of Karnataka Cable Operators Association, which represents about 1,800 LCOs in the state.
Small MSOs in tier-2 cities like Belagavi in Karnataka, Kolhapur in Maharashtra and Iduki in Kerala chose to switch off pay channels and aired only free-to-air channels.
TRAI officials said while broadcasters are displaying their rate list, MSOs have collected options from about 50% consumers and they hoped migration to the new regime will completely be effected soon after LCOs and MSOs sign the agreement.
Barring a few small multi-system operators (MSO) in districts like Belagavi, all MSOs and local cable operators (LCOs) continued to air the same channels as was done before, even as MSOs are receiving options of individual channels (al a carte) and bouquets as per the new system.
“We heard LCOs and MSOs are yet to come to an agreement on revenue sharing, but they decided to not disrupt the cable service. So, subscribers felt no change in TV programmes,” said a TRAI official.
Most direct-to-home (DTH) operators and MSOs, who have the facility of primary point (directly connected to TV sets without LCOs), rolled out the new regime and beamed TV channels as per the options they had collected from viewers.
Of the about 1.1 crore cable TV consumers in the state, about 30% subscribe to DTH and 5% are covered under MSOs with primary point.
“We are still holding talks with MSOs on revenue sharing and have decided not to disrupt the service for now. We hope the issue will be resolved soon,” said VS Patrick Raju, president of Karnataka Cable Operators Association, which represents about 1,800 LCOs in the state.
Small MSOs in tier-2 cities like Belagavi in Karnataka, Kolhapur in Maharashtra and Iduki in Kerala chose to switch off pay channels and aired only free-to-air channels.
TRAI officials said while broadcasters are displaying their rate list, MSOs have collected options from about 50% consumers and they hoped migration to the new regime will completely be effected soon after LCOs and MSOs sign the agreement.
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